Echoes of the Fourth

Echoes of the Fourth

I love fireworks! Any time of the year, Fourth of July, Labor Day, New Year’s Eve and if lucky enough, Memorial Day. My most favorite experience occurred on the beach in New Jersey decades ago. Standing in the sand close to the pier, the fireworks were exploding directly above me. Feeling the remnants of burnt ashes gently falling upon me in the breeze, I stood mesmerized with my neck extended as far back as possible staring, as showers of sparkling colors erupted over head. I had never been as close to a fireworks staging area as I was that evening standing beside the Atlantic Ocean. Standing directly underneath the fireworks display left a lasting impression. As I watched, I could see the trails of the explosive particles floating down. As I began to paint this painting, thoughts of the recently passed Fourth of July arose. And, I longingly went back to that shore in Jersey decades ago. Those explosions of color and the extending trails of particles that left such a lasting impression upon me are depicted in my palette knife marks.